Ford Exec: ‘We Know Everyone Who Breaks The Law’ Thanks To Our GPS In Your Car

Business Insider ^ | January 8, 2014 | Jim Edwards

[billorites]

Ford's Global VP/Marketing and Sales, Jim Farley, said something both sinister and obvious during a panel discussion about data privacy today at CES, the big electronics trade show in Las Vegas.

Because of the GPS units installed in Ford vehicles, Ford knows when its drivers are speeding, and where they are while they're doing it.

Farley was trying to describe how much data Ford has on its customers, and illustrate the fact that the company uses very little of it in order to avoid raising privacy concerns: "We know everyone who breaks the law, we know when you're doing it. We have GPS in your car, so we know what you're doing. By the way, we don't supply that data to anyone," he told attendees.

Rather, he said, he imagined a day when the data might be used anonymously and in aggregate to help other marketers with traffic related problems. Suppose a stadium is holding an event; knowing how much traffic is making its way toward the arena might help the venue change its parking lot resources accordingly, he said.

[catnipman]

“And .. why I turn off the GPS in my mobile phone”

the only way to turn GPS off is to pull the battery. GPS is always on, even if the phone is OFF.

[BfloGuy]

I think I’ll avoid buying cars with already installed GPS’s & just use one that I bought separately.

And I think I'll stick with my '97 F-250 [cherry condition, 95K miles] which has virtually no electronics save the cassette player.

[Eaker]

I have a trip recording program on my cell phone. I can turn it on when I leave home and off when I get to work. I have tested it and it is damn accurate.

It will tell me the following:
1) Total time in motion.
2) Total time at rest.
3) Total combined time.
4) Top speed reached.
5) Average overall speed.
6) Continuous elevation changes above sea level.
7) It can map the trip so I know the exact route I took.

It is a free app on my phone and it can do all of this. I guarantee the gov has better stuff.

[minnesota_bound]

I will rip out any GPS installed in my car!

[Nowhere Man]

I think I’ll keep my mother’s (she passed away in November and I inherited her car, only 31K miles, practically new) 2004 Hyundai Sonata as long a I can.

[Nowhere Man]

There is a reason why my next vehicle may very well be a mid-70’s 4x4...

I might try to score a 1977 Pontiac Grand Prix. That was my first car and I love those "Malaise Era" land yachts.

[ChildOfThe60s]

I own a 2004 Sonata I bought new, has 88k miles on it. I intend to drive it to the bitter end.

Hey, it sat in the airport parking lot in (barely) sub zero temps for several days and started right up when I got in it. My sports bottle full of water on the console was frozen solid as was the 6 pack of bottled water I keep in the trunk with my emergency supplies.

[Nowhere Man]

I own a 2004 Sonata I bought new, has 88k miles on it. I intend to drive it to the bitter end.

Hey, it sat in the airport parking lot in (barely) sub zero temps for several days and started right up when I got in it. My sports bottle full of water on the console was frozen solid as was the 6 pack of bottled water I keep in the trunk with my emergency supplies.

We bought it new too, bought it for my mother. She passed away in November from inflammatory breast cancer so I inherited her car. I sold my 1999 Blazer (needed ball joints and some other work) so Mom's car became mine, it is practically new. BTW, I have the 4 cylinder engine, which one do you have? I work at a department store and when it was 5 below out there, it started right up. It did crank a wee bit slower at those temperatures but it started. The only think we put into it is tires and a battery, the latter was good but used so I might put in a new one later this year and I'll get tires too. It goes through snow very well too. BTW, at 60K miles, change the timing belt, that is one issue to watch for, I heard if it breaks, it could kill your engine.

[ChildOfThe60s]

My 2004 has the 2.7 six. I also have a 2007 with the 2.4 four.

The 2004/6 has a timing belt, the 2007/4 has a timing chain.

When you have the belt replaced, DO NOT have the dealer sell you the package service for $900 that includes the belt change. Just get the belt changed by itself. Saves a boatload of money since most of the package is fluff.

[chaosagent]

“Because of the GPS units installed in Ford vehicles, Ford knows when its drivers are speeding, and where they are while they’re doing it. “

So Ford knows when I’m driving 55mph in a 25 mph zone which is only half a mile?

---

My Garmin GPS knows the speed limit of almost every road I’m driving on, and alerts me if I’m going over the speed limit.

It’s amazing to pass a new speed limit sign and watch the new limit pop up on my GPS.

[MOgirl]

Hello,

Not sure about Ford Motor Credit, but many of the high risk car financing companies use a GPS unit to do just that. Also, many use something called a “kill switch”. Late on the payment? Turn off the car and it will not start again until the company turns it back on.

Welcome to the brave new world....

MOgirl

[bgill]

Now we won’t have to pull over for traffic tickets, they’ll be automatically charged to our bank accounts.

[bgill]

I saw one GPS showing the car was going nearly 2000 mph. It was funny at the time but maybe not so funny when next time you get a ticket.

[MV=PY]

"And .. why I turn off the GPS in my mobile phone. I do turn it on if I make LONG trips into unfamiliar territory - just for my safety."

That's an encouraging thought, but all it does is reduce the accuracy of your location from GPS to that of cell phone triangulation (as long as you're on the network).

[MV=PY]

"I’m going to marry my car so it can’t testify against me."

Better get a prenuptial agreement. ;-)

[jsanders2001]

> Won’t work. Once the GPS is required, like the black boxes, your car will fail to run if you disable them. And it *will* be a federal offense to tamper with them.

Remember catalytic converters?

A new market will be created and some mechanics will make a killing legal or not...

[jsanders2001]

> Are you related to this gal? BTW-is your car male or female?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV8ew4aafN4

A lesbian marrying a female building? Sounds completely normal in Obozo’s world.

[Clay Moore]

Normally the low oil light comes on when you are 2 quarts low. You shouldn’t lose an engine anywhere close to that.

The old oil pressure lights just came on to tell you “buy a new engine.”

[Pining_4_TX]

Yes, I know, but it’s the engine light that comes on, and people say by that time, the engine is shot. Go to the message boards at edmunds.com and find the thread on Honda Odyssey oil consumption. There is a class action suit going now, too, but Honda is denying there is a problem with the CVT.

[bigfootbob]

No doubt. What a bunch of loser freaks, no?